Carter, Putt win Bessel Independence Day Run

Evan Tsembelis, Nick Masiello and Chris Carter cross the finish line within seconds of each other.

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Grand Island's Dick Bessel Independence
Day road race set another record for participation, race director Jim Masiello
told runners at the starting line.

According to Score This!!!, official
timers of the race, 14 racewalkers and 587 runners crossed the finish line of
the 2.3-mile race.

First across the line was Grand Islander
and Geneseo State College graduate Chris Carter in 11 minutes, 9 seconds,
followed closely by Columbia's Evan Tsembelis and St. Bonaventure's Nick
Masiello. Tsembelis and Carter were 1-2 in last year's race, though the duo
seemed to play a game this year to see who could let who win.

There was no doubt who the first woman
across the line would be as Tammy Putt of Allegany, pictured at left, was almost
a minute faster than the second-place finisher Kacey Bougard of East Aurora.

Below, Tsembelis, Masiello and
Carter come down the home stretch behind a police escort.